The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has started that it has invited former governor Abdullahi Ganduje to appear before it for questioning over alleged dollar bribe videos.
Ganduje was captured on tape taking money from a contractor and concealing it in his shirt when he was governor.
Muhuyi Rimingado, the chairman of the commission, confirmed the summon to journalists in Kano on Thursday.
Mr. Rimingado stated that the panel expects Ganduje to appear before it next week to clear his name in the continuing probe.
“I have signed a letter to invite him for questioning at the commission next week because this is what the law says and we will provide ample opportunity for him to defend himself.
“There is what the law provides; the law is coercive in nature, it compels obedience. The law doesn’t lobby you to come and do certain things.
“There are procedures and we will follow all the necessary steps to do what is needful,” he assured.
The PCACC chairman also responded to the Coalition for Northern Civil Society Groups’ claim that the commission launched the probe to mock the former governor and prevent him from receiving a federal job.
He just stated that “fact speaks for itself”.
Rimingado stated that the commission had signaled its intention to investigate since the video was released in 2018, but that because the governor was immune at the time, the commission’s options were limited.
“This is why on my return as the chairman few weeks ago and the fact that the former governor no longer enjoys immunity, we decided to reopen the investigation and give the former governor the opportunity to clear himself or otherwise.
“Moreso, as the videos have continued to cause the state and citizens of the state ridicule across the globe,” Rimingado said.
He urged all state residents with helpful information that could aid the inquiry to come forward, promising that such information would be treated confidentially.
Rimingado also urged state residents and civil society organizations to assist the panel in rooting out corruption in the state.
He asked people to do so by submitting any required information on any case of corruption, stressing that the commission would deliver justice regardless of who was involved.
In addition, the Kano State Government has filed a notice of withdrawal of a complaint against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court in Kano, attempting to prevent the EFCC from investigating Mr Ganduje over the bribery video.
Haruna Dederi, the state’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, initiated the new move.
The appeal told the court that the government intends to continue inviting, investigating, and questioning the former Executive Chairman and Director of Finance of SUBEB, as well as the Accountant General of Kano State, in connection with the bribery video.
The application was made in accordance with Order 50 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, as modified, by the Solicitor General, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Amina Yargaya.
It would be noted that the ministry gave a fiat to Sanusi Musa of Aliyu & Musa Legal Practitioner, a law company, to launch the case under the immediate past Attorney General.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, the ministry under the current Attorney General debriefed the learned silk and barred him from continuing to handle the case.
Mr Dederi’s letter, dated 4 July and addressed to Sanusi Musa, stated as follows:
“We write to notify you that Kano State Government and the Attorney General of Kano State wish to debrief you of the earlier instructions, given to you to handle the case NO: FHC/KN/71/2023 BETWEEN ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANO STATE AND ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC).
“You and your team members are therefore instructed not to take any further steps on the matter, either by appearing in court or filing any processes in respect of the case.”
It should also be noted that the Federal High Court barred the defendant (EFCC) from taking any further action in relation to the invitation, interrogation, and investigation of the aforementioned accused persons in connection with the bribery claims against Mr Ganduje in the video clips.
There is no set date for hearing the notice of withdrawal of the application.
